Mideast situation/Lebanon – Letter from Lebanon

Letter dated 27 June 2001 from the Permanent Representative of Lebanon

to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to inform you of the following:

The Finnish contingent of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that at 0516 hours on 15 June 2001 an Israeli civilian agricultural aircraft had penetrated 100 metres north of the Blue Line in the area of the Misgav Am settlement, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

The Finnish UNIFIL contingent reported that between 0755 and 0815 hours on 18 June 2001 an Israeli civilian agricultural aircraft had penetrated some 30 metres into Lebanese airspace in the Kafr Killa area. It had also penetrated 20 metres over the Blue Line eight times in the area between intermediate boundary pillar B-86, 1 kilometre east of Kafr Killa, and intermediate boundary pillar B-88, near the Metullah settlement, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1115 and 1135 hours on the same day four Israeli warplanes overflew the UNIFIL area of operations in southern Lebanon. Two aircraft then overflew the Western Bekaa, and two others flew over the sea 10 nautical miles off Jubayl, breaking the sound barrier and violating Lebanese airspace.

The UNIFIL Ghanian contingent reported that between 1155 and 1156 hours on 20 June 2001 two Israeli helicopters had flown over its area of operations at low altitude. On the same day Israeli warplanes overflew the Tyre and Shikka areas, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

Between 1038 and 1100 hours on 23 June 2001 Israeli warplanes flew over the sea off Tyre heading north. They also overflew the Western Bekaa and Shikka areas, thus violating Lebanese airspace.

The Israeli aerial violations indicated above are in flagrant violation of Security Council resolution 425 (1978) and of Lebanon’s sovereignty, and they pose a threat to security and stability in the region.

I should be grateful if you would have this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda item 40, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Sélim Tadmoury

Ambassador

Permanent Representative